Here's another sad post about something I didn't win on eBay. What the hell is this, you ask? I think it's a tiny taxidermied ermine pin. (But it's five iches high, and aren't ermines more ferret-size?) The auction said they were very fashionable for women to wear on their shoulders in New York City in the 40's. Anyway, I failed to place the winning bid at a whopping $43, which would have been a ridiculous price as I guess I can't really imagine wearing this out in public, you know, pinned to my coat or whatever. I know taxidermy is hot right now but I feel like other people would judge me.
Anyway, it's a real holdout from a time when people used to wear fur stoles with the heads and tails and feet still attached, draped over their shoulder as a point of pride. It's seems really unethical or something today, but it's not any less ethical than wearing fur in general, and is certainly more so than buying a new garment made of fur (which I wouldn't do.) But this bizarre pin was not destined to be mine, and I cannot help but wonder who exactly is buying these things, along with the 1920's wool bathing suits that are going for hella money these days.
i blame the steampunks! steeeeeampunks! what a shame, that bizarre thingy would have made a fine addition to one's wunderkammer.
ReplyDeletei'm planning on doing a steampunk themed post soon. did they just come out of nowhere or what?
ReplyDeleteAll I knows is that I first heard of these "steampunks" about a month ago when gaby and I were contemplating going to this party, and it said something like "steampunk attire" on the invite. obviously, we didn't go.
ReplyDeletei know this makes me out to be very old and out-of-touch, but could you please tell me what steampunks are?
ReplyDeleteare they rawkish young types who never leave the house without first pressing their clothes? are they ironing-obsessed? or are they humid, sweaty food-not-bombs types?
Good lord. I had a 1940s stole with little feet and the heads attached, and the clip was the mink's mouth. I called it The Talky Fur.
ReplyDeletei remember my mom having those stoles around when i was a kid and i had no idea what the hell was going on with them. i still don't really know.
ReplyDelete